The City of Lincoln Council has announced plans to end the city’s Christmas market after 40 years.
The decision has led to councillors being labelled “Grinches and Scrooges” with Lincoln MP Karl McCartney saying, “safety concerns were manageable”, as reported by the BBC.
Negative visitor feedback and safety fears over future Christmas markets led to the decision following a council meeting. Members heard the market became “uncomfortably” busy, leading to an impact on the visitor experience.
The council claim last year’s market attracted 70,000 more visitors over its limit across the four days, yet a financial loss of £80,000 is still anticipated.
City of Lincoln Councillor leader Ric Metcalfe said: “Safety is the most important part.
“There is a growing realisation that we are trying to fit to many people into too little a space.”
Within 24 hours of the decision, Ashfield District Council in Nottinghamshire came forward as interested in offering traders a place to set up their stalls this coming winter. As part of the councils plans to upgrade its own Christmas market.
Ashfield District Council leader Jason Zadrozny said during a cabinet meeting: “We will pull together a list of all the traders and ask if they want to come to the district”.
“It would be a great economic regenerator, probably for Sutton, as we have space like Sutton Lawn and the town centre.
“We might not get the full 500 stalls, but I’m hoping whatever we plan for Sutton might work up into something bigger and better.”
